A surprising opinion piece by Shmarya Rosenberg, the Editor of Failed Messiah, argues that the 103-year sentence against Nechemya Weberman is excessive when considering the fact that only one victim testified against him. He argues 103 years is perhaps counterproductive in terms of helping victims in the Ultra Orthodox Community.

Here are some tidbits of the article, but readers should take the privilege to read it in full. He writes:

Haredi leaders from Agudath Israel of America’s Rabbi David Zwiebel, Gary Schlesinger who runs a charity controlled by the upstate Aharoni Satmar faction, and NY State Assemblyman Dov Hikind all think the sentence is too long and that rather than serving as a deterrent for haredi pedophiles and as encouragement to haredi victims to come forward and report the crimes committed against them to police or the DA, the verdict will have the opposite effect… They believe that victims will be more afraid than ever to report pedophiles to police because the penalty potentially given these molesters is so draconian. …I do agree with Hikind, Zwiebel and Satmar in this case – something I rarely do. I think the sentence is counterproductive for all the reasons enumerated above. But I also think all those same reasons will be in play even if Weberman’s sentence is reduced to 15 or 20 years in prison – well below the norm for the crimes he committed.

Rosenberg also writes:  I do oppose the sentence because I believe it is excessive. Why? Because Weberman was tried for the sexual abuse of one minor. If his other victims – and there are many – would have come forward, an effective life sentence would certainly be appropriate. But they were not able to or willing to come forward because they feared harassment and abuse being heaped on them and their families, just like it was heaped on the victim who did come forward and on her family… That would lead to more convictions and to some real deterrence… If Hynes was tougher on haredim who harass and intimidate victims and witnesses, more victims would certainly come forward and report their abusers to police or the DA. But wouldn’t the sentences still be excessive? Yes, they would be excessive – but still legal. And that is one out of many examples of why the entire US criminal justice system needs to be revamped… Weberman’s crime is – as it rightfully should be – classified as violent. So what should he have been sentenced to? I’m not sure.

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